Tag Archives: Taiwan

Yehliu is the name of a rocky cape on the northeast coast of Taiwan. The cape is known for the interesting rock formations that were formed when ocean waves eroded part of the rocky shore. The formations, called hoodoos, can be seen in the Yeliu Geopark. Some of the rock formations have names based on objects that resemble their shapes. The most famous hoodoo is called “the Queen’s Head.” Yehliu is within the town of Wanli which is between the cities of Taipei and Keelung.

The city of Kaoshiung in southwestern Taiwan is home to the stunning man-made Lotus Lake. The lake is a popular tourist destination famous for its many temples and its large statue of the Emperor of the Dark Heaven, a Taoist God. The most popular temples are the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, and the Confucian Temple. As its name suggests, Lotus Lake is famous for the many beautiful pink lotus flowers blooming around the rim of the lake. Lotus Lake is easy to get to by train from Kaoshiung city center, and the sights are best explored on foot.

I recently visited the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and that inspired me to share these pictures of the 10 tallest buildings in the world with you. Here they are in ascending order by height, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH):

9. Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago, United States of America (USA)
The Trump Tower, named for Donald Trump, is located on the Chicago River in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It stands 423m (1,389ft) and has 92 stories. The tower houses retail space, a parking garage, a hotel, and condominiums. It was completed in 2009.

8. Guangzhou West Tower, Guangzhou, China
The Guangzhou West Tower in Guangzhou, China, is a 440.2m (1,444ft) tall skyscraper that is home to a conference center, a hotel, and offices. It was completed in 2009 and has 103 floors. The tower’s twin, the Guangzhou East Tower, will be completed in 2016.

7. Willis Tower, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America (USA)
Formerly called the Sears Tower, the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois, USA, stands 442m (1,451ft) tall and has 108 floors. It was completed in 1973 and was the tallest building in the world at that time. It is currently the tallest building in the United States.

6. Nanjing Greenland Financial Center, Nanjing, China
Also known as the Greenland Square Zifeng Tower, the Nanjing Greenland Financial Center in Nanjing, China, is 450m (1,480ft) tall. It was completed in 2009 and currently houses office space, retail space, a restaurant, and an observation deck. It has 89 stories.

5. Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is home to the Petronas Twin Towers, which held the record for the world’s tallest buildings from their completion in 1998 until 2004. They are still the tallest twin buildings in the world. Tower 1 is headquarters to the oil and gas company Petronas, and Tower 2 houses the offices of various other corporations. The towers are 451.9m (1,482.6ft) tall and have 88 stories each. You can see more pictures and read about my visit here: Petronas Twin Towers Skybridge Visit.

4. International Commerce Centre, Kowloon, Hong Kong
The International Commerce Centre in Kowloon, Hong Kong, comes in at 484m (1,588ft) tall. It was completed in 2010. Its 118 stories are home to a Ritz-Carlton hotel, a shopping mall, and various corporate offices. There is a viewing deck on the 100th floor.

3. Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China
At 487.4m (1,599.1ft) tall, the Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai, China, is the third tallest building in the world. It is home to the highest hotel in the world, the Park Hyatt Shanghai. It also has the highest observation deck in the world. The building’s 101 floors also house offices, hotels, conference rooms, and shopping malls. It was completed in 2008 and it stands next to the Jin Mao Tower. I think it looks like a giant bottle opener.

2. Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan
The spectacular Taipei 101 spire in Taipei, Taiwan was the tallest building in the world from its completion in 2004 until 2010. Also known as the Taipei Financial Center, the Taipei 101 is 509.2m (1,670.6ft) tall and has 101 floors. There are numerous corporate offices and restaurants in the building.

1. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
The massive Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, is by far the tallest man-made structure ever built. It stands an awe-inspiring 828m (2,717ft) above ground and has 160 floors. It became the world’s tallest building when it opened on January 4th, 2010. It took six years to construct and it is home to hotels, residences, restaurants, and offices.